AFIT awards 236 master’s, doctorate STEM degrees Published April 1, 2021 88th Air Base Wing Public Affairs WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio -- During the Air Force Institute of Technology’s Graduate School of Engineering and Management graduation ceremony March 25, history was made as this year’s class included Guardians of the U.S. Space Force. A total of 230 master’s and six doctorate degrees were awarded in the science, technology, engineering and math fields. One graduate earned dual master’s degrees. Due to current COVID-19 concerns, the commencement ceremony was livestreamed for family and friends. The graduating class included 172 Air Force officers and three noncommissioned officers, 33 Space Force officers, six Army officers, five Marine Corps officers, 11 Defense Department civilians and three defense contractors. Two international students from Australia also graduated. “Your AFIT degree will give you initial credibility with others but also establish some very high expectations of your ability to use what you learn here to help solve some of the tough challenges facing our Air and Space Forces today and in the future,” said Dr. Todd Stewart, AFIT director and chancellor. “I am confident that your AFIT program has prepared you well to make important contributions for our Air and Space Forces.” Following Stewart’s remarks, Acting Secretary of the Air Force John P. Roth relayed a message in a recorded video. “Graduates, as you relish in this moment, be proud,” he said. “Benjamin Franklin once said, ‘If a man empties his purse into his head, no one can take it away from him. An investment in knowledge always pays the best interest.’ As a career comptroller, I can tell you, he was right. “Education certainly pays the best interest, but it is up to you to invest. Going forward, I encourage you to take what you have learned combing over thousands of pages, hundreds of studies, and countless papers and focus on three areas: inspire, inquire and take initiative.” Lt. Gen. James Hecker, Air University commander and president, also congratulated the graduates. “You will be known as AFIT graduates now. There is only a small fraction of our Air and Space Force that can say they are AFIT graduates, and that means something,” he said. “Make sure that you always know, people will look at you differently because you are an AFIT graduate. Be the person the commander goes to when they have a hard job to get done, because that is going to be the expectation. “And guess what? You will deliver because of the faculty and everything you learned here. You are prepared to meet that challenge.” Gen. John W. “Jay” Raymond, the first chief of Space Operations, was guest speaker for this year’s ceremonies and praised the graduates for their hard work and accomplishment. Raymond conveyed that the Air Force Institute of Technology has been the means by which the Air Force has enhanced the technological superiority of the nation’s air, space and cyber forces for more than a century. AFIT and its predecessor organizations have delivered world-class education to hundreds of thousands of defense professionals. “Today, we are operating in an extremely complex security environment, probably the most complex environment since the Cold War,” Raymond said. “There is a lot that can go wrong and there are many challenges that lie ahead. Now, more than ever, we need technically minded joint warfighters who are ready to meet the challenges of our time. “While I have no doubt that our joint coalition forces are the envy of the world, our advantage, our superiority is diminishing. Parity undermines global stability. We must rapidly evolve and stay ahead of that growing threat. The Department of Defense is primed for rapid innovation and transformation, and it is you who will inspire and lead that change. There is no moment better than now, and no one better than you to lead that effort.” Raymond urged the graduates to employ what they had learned at AFIT. “Don’t be afraid to fail, don’t be afraid to fall short,” the general said. “Trust yourself and trust what you learned. You are all ready and all of you are good enough to do great things in defense of our freedom.” AFIT’s Graduate School of Engineering and Management is a research-based institution offering programs leading to Master of Science and Doctorate of Philosophy degrees in engineering, applied science and selected areas of management. The school’s mission is to provide high-quality, graduate-education programs and engage in research activities that enable the Department of the Air and Space Force to maintain its scientific and technological dominance. At an awards ceremony earlier in the day, the following students were recognized for their exemplary performance: Capt. James Crumpacker of the Operational Sciences Department received the Chancellor’s Award for producing the most exceptional individual master’s thesis. First Lt. Hanna Gjermo-Chomitz from the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department received the Mervin E. Gross Award for her exceptional academic achievement and high qualities of character, initiative and leadership. The award is named in honor of Brig. Gen. Mervin E. Gross, the institute’s first commandant. Capt. Evan Fortney of the Systems Engineering and Management Department received the Louis F. Polk Award. The winner of this award exhibits the highest standards of academic and professional accomplishment — and through research — made a significant contribution toward strengthening the nation’s industrial defense base. Capt. Justin Tullos from the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department received the Edwin E. Aldrin Sr. Award, presented for displaying the most exceptional leadership characteristics while in the graduate program. The award is sponsored by the Air Force Association’s Wright Memorial Chapter and named in honor of Lt. Edwin E. Aldrin Sr., a member of the institute’s first graduating class in 1920, who upon graduation, became AFIT’s first vice commandant. Master Sgt. Arvin Bada of the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department received the Secretary James G. Roche Award for demonstrating exceptional academic achievement through a combination of grade-point average and outstanding research, as well as high qualities of character, initiative, leadership and service. The award is named after former Air Force Secretary James G. Roche, whose leadership in 2002 led to the first class of noncommissioned officers in the Graduate School of Engineering and Management. The following students met all degree requirements and were approved for the designated degree (in bold): Doctorate of Philosophy Aeronautical Engineering Capt. Ruben Adorno-Rodriguez Maj. Michael Wilkinson Applied Physics Lt. Col. James Bowers Capt. Carlos Diaz Electrical Engineering Dr. Isaac Weintraub Optical Sciences and Engineering Dr. Jonathan Slagle Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics Master of Science in Aeronautical Engineering 1st Lt. Alexander J. Brown 2nd Lt. Anthony Cabri Capt. Joshua Embrador Capt. Christopher Fassio Capt. Evan Glowiak Capt. Paul Grossi 2nd Lt. Andrej Lysak* 2nd Lt. Caleigh Nelson Capt. Jacob Olsen Capt. Torin Quick Capt. Patrick Silberberg (Marine Corps) Capt. Luke Steinberg Capt. Nathan Tedder Capt. Jake Willstatter Master of Science in Astronautical Engineering 1st Lt. Cecily Agu Capt. Layne Barrett Nathan Boone 2nd Lt. Nathaniel Enders* Taylor Foy Capt. Connor Gurley Jonathan Olsten 2nd Lt. Devin Saunders Capt. Daniel Scala Master of Science in Materials Science 2nd Lt. Benjamin Lam Capt. Richard Reinink Master of Science in Space Systems Capt. Joseph Bacon Capt. Steven Bednarski Capt. Ranell Cavitt Capt. Jessica Horn* Capt. Carl Poole Maj. Michael Sherman Maj. Matthew Whitaker Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering Master of Science in Computer Engineering Capt. Kyle Hintze 1st Lt. Robert Mellish 2nd Lt. Ryan Raettig* 2nd Lt. Dillon Tryhorn Master of Science in Computer Science 1st Lt. Mark N. Adams 1st Lt. Ricky D. Anderson 2nd Lt. Claire Badger John Beighle 2nd Lt. Vincent Bownes 2nd Lt. Brian Curran 2nd Lt. Mark Demore Capt. Matthew Eilertson 2nd Lt. James Elkins 2nd Lt. Brennen Garland 2nd Lt. Joshua Larson Capt. Ryan Nartea Tech. Sgt. Daniel Oke Capt. Connor Pipan Capt. Graeme Roberts Capt. Luis Sepulveda Capt. Joshua H. White 2nd Lt. Robert Willburn 2nd Lt. Chad A. Willis Master of Science in Cyber Operations Master Sgt. Arvin Bada* 2nd Lt. Ryan Baity Capt. Khaled Basrawi Capt. Brenna Cole* Capt. Justin M. Durham Capt. John Hannah* Capt. Stephanie Long Capt. Enjoli Morales Master of Science in Electrical Engineering 1st Lt. Destinee Battle Kevin Chandler Capt. Henry Cho Capt. Daniel J. Clarke* 1st Lt. Benjamin W. Davis Capt. William Deberry 1st Lt. Israel Dunk (Australia) Capt. Jordan Eldridge 2nd Lt. Kyle Emery Capt. Sean Feschak Capt. Steven Frank 1st Lt. Noah Friz 1st Lt. Hanna Gjermo-Chomitz* Capt. Grant Graupmann 1st Lt. Eulalie Grodner 1st Lt. Zackary Hewitt Capt. Tyler Hussey Capt. Ethan Jacquin 2nd Lt. Natalie Ketner 1st Lt. Justin S. Lee 1st Lt. Colton Mott Maj. Adam D. Murphy 1st Lt. Austin Nathaniel 2nd Lt. Connor Paw Capt. Christian Potts 1st Lt. Mitchell Rudy 1st Lt. John Stader Capt. Sureshan Suntharalingam (Australia) Capt. Justin Tullos Capt. Ryan P. Wilkerson Capt. Brian M. Wright Capt. Rick Yuan Capt. Aubrey Olson Capt. Kaitlin Poole Department of Engineering Physics Master of Science in Applied Physics Capt. Tyler Brewer Capt. Derek Buckley 1st Lt. Rodney Carmona Capt. Blake Galloway Capt. Seth Garland* Capt. Simeon Hanks Capt. Alexander Holstead Matthew Husk 1st Lt. Brian Kay 1st Lt. John Nguyen 1st Lt. Michael Rynders 2nd Lt. Adrian Scheppe 1st Lt. Anne Werkley Master of Science in Atmospheric Sciences Capt. Stewart Almeida Capt. Britta Gjermo-Morrison 1st Lt. Seth Powers Capt. Andrew Siebels Master of Science in Materials Science Maj. Joshua Frey (Army) (dual degree) Master of Science in Nuclear Engineering 1st Lt. Stephen Baxter 2nd Lt. Marcus Brinker Capt. Sean Fitzpatrick (Army) Maj. Joshua Frey (Army) (dual degree) Maj. Aaron Heffelfinger (Army) 1st Lt. Zachary LaMere* Capt. Jason Seik Capt. James Stofel* Master of Science in Optical Sciences and Engineering Timothy True Department of Mathematics and Statistics Master of Science in Applied Mathematics 2nd Lt. Jeremiah Lane* Capt. Aron Wing Department of Operational Sciences Master of Science in Logistics Maj. Joshua D. Meyer Maj. Francis Rupert Capt. Phillip Wuebold Master of Science in Logistics & Supply Chain Management Capt. Scott Carr Capt. Meaghan Crandell Capt. Ioan Gaitan Capt. Hunter Kalin Capt. David Portee Capt. John Ritschard* Capt. David W. Wallace Master of Science in Operations Research Capt. Justin L. Anderson Capt. Jessica Astudillo Capt. Jeremiah Bill Capt. Zachary Butcher Capt. Matthew Cornman Capt. James Crumpacker* 1st Lt. Nathaniel Dennie Capt. Stephen Donnel 1st Lt. Alex R. Gaines Maj. John Goodwill (Army) 2nd Lt. Emily Graves Julia Haines Capt. Donald Hale Capt. Kimberly Holland Capt. Benjamin Huffman Lt. Col. Joseph Liles* 2nd Lt. Michelle McGee 2nd Lt. Nicholas Pollack 2nd Lt. Matthew Scherer Maj. Camero Song (Army) 2nd Lt. Emmie Swize Capt. Erick Tello Capt. Julius Walker Capt. Andrew S. Wilson (Army) Capt. William F. Wilson Capt. Kylie Wooten Department of Systems Engineering and Management Master of Engineering in Applied Systems Engineering Capt. Raza Alyas Capt. Alex Arlint Capt. Isaiah Bragg Capt. Robert Cline Michael Cutter Capt. John Jozsa Capt. Robert D. Rodgers Capt. Tony Zilli Master of Science in Cost Analysis 1st Lt. Evan Amato 1st Lt. Christopher Bissing Capt. Christian Erneston 1st Lt. Karina Fernando 1st Lt. James Goljan* 1st Lt. Alexander Pollack Capt. Joshua Reese 1st Lt. Colin Sandor 1st Lt. Cameron Scott 1st Lt. Erwin Spencer Capt. Thinh Tran 1st Lt. Trevor Violette Master of Science in Engineering Management 2nd Lt. Yaquarri Adams 1st Lt. Christopher Amaddio Capt. Alexander Baldwin Capt. Sarah L. Brown Capt. Joseph Chapman 1st Lt. Kelsie Crouch 1st Lt. Stephen Cunningham* Capt. Devin Depalmer Capt. Tyler Ferry Capt. Evan Fortney Capt. Kenneth Neal Capt. Mathew Nicholson Capt. Jared Pilcher Capt. John Pollock Capt. Daniel Ress Capt. Kyle Rodriguez 2nd Lt. Tyler Stout 1st Lt. Scott Weiss* Capt. Louis Zib Capt. Carlos Esguerra Kurt Lamm Master Sgt. Vincent Olshove Capt. Kaitlyn Ryan* Capt. William Sousa 1st Lt. Adam Teston Master of Science in Environmental Engineering & Science Maj. Daniel Schurman (Marine Corps) Capt. Troy Searcy* (Marine Corps) Capt. Jacob Spaulding (Marine Corps) Maj. Jeffry P. Hart (Marine Corps) Megan Shade Master of Science in Systems Engineering 2nd Lt. Bretton Bethel Capt. Kyla Brown Capt. Foster Davis 2nd Lt. Eugene Denezza 2nd Lt. Mikaela Dimaapi Capt. Benjamin Donohoo Capt. Keith Dreyer Capt. David Feibus Capt. Ethan Gaston Capt. Tommy Hernandez Capt. Daniel Herreraramirez Mark Kassan Capt. Sean R. Kelly Capt. Jeffery King Capt. Dalton Miller Capt. Justin R. Miller 2nd Lt. Jordan Peterson* Capt. Clayton Wilson *Distinguished graduate